Extensible measuring-pole.



No. 867,812. PATENTED OCT. 8, 1907.

J. EDWARDS.

BXTENSIBLE MEASURING POLE.

TOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 16, 1907.

W/ T/VESSES A TTOR/VE V5 JOHN EDWARDS, OF TROY, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSIBLE MEASURING-POLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Qot. 8, 1907.

. Application filed January 16,1907. Serial No- 352,576.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Extensible Measuring-Pole, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a measuring pole of that type having hingedly connected main sections and slidable extensions thereon so that the pole can be lengthened or shortened according to the desire of the carpenter or mechanic.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character so as to be simple, durable and inexpensive, easily and conveniently manipulated, and thoroughly reliable and efficient in use.

A further object of the invention is the employment of a slidable locking plate at the hingedly connected ends of the main sections of the pole which is adapted to hold the said sections rigidly in open position so as to prevent the pole from folding.

Another object is the provision of locking devices for clamping the extensible sections of the pole in any desired position, the said devices being convenient and easy to operate.

With these objects in view, and others, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one form of embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the pole showing the main sections locked open and the extensible sections thereof clamped in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the main sections showing the guide and slide collars partially broken away, and the locking plate in open position. respectively on lines 33 and 4-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the clamping cams for adjustably holding the extensible sections to the main sections of the pole.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

Referring to the drawing, A and B designate the main sections of the pole and G and D the extensible sections thereof. These various sections may be of any desired length and dimensions and are of any approved material. The sections A and B are slotted inwardly approximately their full length so as to form U-shaped structures hinged together at their inner ends by a hinge E, which may be of any approved type, such, for instance, as the hinge employed on the common two-foot rule. The extensible sections 0 and D Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections taken are normally confined in the slots 1 of the sections A and B and slide longitudinally of the latter sections between the legs 2 thereof. The outer ends of the main sections are provided with guide sleeves or collars 3 pinned, or otherwise secured, to the legs 2, so as to guide the movement of the extensible sections adjacent their outer ends. On the inner ends of the sections 0 and D are guide collars 4 which are pinned thereto and encompass the main sections of the pole to slide back and forth thereon. The several sections may be divided into units of any desired character, such as feet and inches, several different scales being employed, as preferred. In the present instance, the main sections are each four feet in length so that when the pole is unfolded, the main sections will form a pole of eight feet, and the extensible sections are so proportioned as to permit the pole to be extended to fourteen feet.

In order to hold the main sections of the pole in open 4 or unfolded position, a suitable locking device is employed. This device comprises a slidable locking plate 5 which is of dovetailed cross section, as shown in Fig. 4, and is set in dovetailed grooves 6 in the inner ends of the main sections and on the sides thereof opposite from the hinge E. The groove in the section B is somewhat longer than the groove in the section A, so that the locking plate 5 can be confined entirely in the section B for the purpose of permitting the main sections to be folded up. The grooves 6 are preferably lined with metal 7 when the sections are made of wood, so as to prevent undue wear. To hold the locking plate in position, a clamping screw 8 is provided which extends through a tapped opening 9 at one end of the plate and binds on the metal lining 7 in the section B. In Fig. 1, the plate 5 is clamped in locking position, so as to prevent the sections A and B of the pole from folding or collapsing, while in Fig. 2 the locking plate is in unlocked position, so as to permit the sections A and B to be folded. This locking device is of simple construction and is very easy to operate, the clamping screw thereof being provided with a winged head, or equivalent means, for facilitating the turning of the screw by hand.

The clamping devices for holding the extensible sections in any desired adjustment each comprises a cam 10 mounted on each slide collar 4, the slide collar being provided withears 11 stamped out therefrom for receiving the pintle 12 on which the cam 10 turns. The cams 10 are so mounted as to cooperate with the narrow sides of the sections A and B, and between each cam and the adjacent section isa metal plate 13 carried by the collar 4 so as to take up the wear produced by the cam. This plate 13 is arranged within the collar 4, as best shown in Fig. 5, and one end is formed around one of the cross bars 14 extending between the two sides of the collar at the end where the lugs 11 are constructed. The cams 1 0 are each provided with an arm 15 whereby they can be conveniently taken hold oi by the fingers for clamping and unclamping them. The clamping cam shown in Fig. 2 is in unclamped position, so that the plate 13 is disengaged from tl 1e member A to permit the extensible section 0 to be moved outwardly When the said section is moved to the required position, the cam 10 is then turned so that the plate 13 is firmly clamped to the section A, as shown in Fig. 5. By means of the plate 13, the parts can be firmly clamped together Without the cam marring the surface of the adjacent main section of the pole. When the extensible sections are moved outwardly to their full limit, the sliding collars 4 abut the guide collars 3, the latter thereby forming stops.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. The pole is of simple and durable construction, easy to manipulate and is adapted for use by mechanics in various trades for taking measurements, laying off distances, and the like.

What is claimed is:-

1. In an extension pole, the combination with a pair of U-shaped main sections each having a guide collar connecting the outer ends of its legs, and a hinge connecting said sections at their proximate ends, of an adjustable section mounted to slide between the legs of each main section and cooperating with the respective guide collars of the main sections, and a guide collar on the inner end of each adjustable section cooperating with both legs of their respective main sections.

2. In an extensible measuring pole, the combination of a pair of main sections each embodying a pair of parallel legs, a guide collar connecting the legs at one end of each main section, and a hinge pivotally connecting the opposite ends thereof, of an adjustable section fitted to slide longitudinally between the legs of each main section and cooperating with the guide collar at the end thereof, a cooperating guide collar on the inner end of each adof each main section, and clamping means carried by said cooperating guide collar and operating on one of the legs of the main section.for preventing relative longltmlinal movement of: the main and adjustable sections.

In a device of the class described, the combination of hingedly connected main sections each embodying a pair 01' parallel legs, a locking device cooperating there- -wit-l-i for preventing the sections from folding, a station ary guide collar on the outer end of each main section, an adjustable section arranged between the legs of each main section and slidable through the guide collar thcrcof, a slide collar secured to the inner end of each adjust able section and slidably engaging the adjacent; main sew tion, and a clamping device mounted on the slide collar oi. each adjustable section.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of hingedly connected main sections, a locking device on the sections arranged to prevent the same from folding. a clamping means for the locking device, a stationary guide collar on the outer end of each main section, an adjustable section slidably mounted on each main section and extending through the guide collar thereof, a slide collar secured to the inner end of. each adjustable section and slidably engaging around the adjacent main section, a clamping cam 011 each slide collar, and a plate inter posed between each cam and adjacent main section and having one end folded about a portion of the sliding col lar supporting the cam.

5. In a folding measuring pole, the combination with a pair of cooperating sections having a pivotal connection and provided with longitudinally extending dovetail grooves arranged in alinement at the proximate ends oi. the sections, one of said grooves being longer than the other, of a locking, plate dovetailed in cross section and adapted to operate longitudinally of the corrcsplmdingly formed groove, said plate being of substantially the same length as the longer groove and adapted to extend into the shorter groove when in locking position to prevent folding movement of the sections about their pivotal con nection, and a device carried by said locking plate and cooperating with a portion of one otI ihe sections for rctaining the plate in locked or unlocked position.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own, i have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JlUllN EIHVARUS.

Witnesses CIrAs. L. Enwanns,

"justable section adapted to'slide longitudinally of the legs 

